There are certain things that we have all done that make us cringe at the thought or mention of such behavior especially when we have no clue how to make amends. The idea of Thanksgiving is to be with family and friends, to give thanks for all of the blessing in your life. Although there can be a lot of anxiety attached to family functions yet there are some actions, which can be harder to live down.

Today is No Judgments Fridays so here are the 5 ways that you embarrassed yourself and how to make amends:

1) Showed up to a friend’s dinner empty handed. This is really tacky and shows that you have no home training. Fix it: Call and invite the host to dinner as a thank you. Now if they ever need to borrow money, a ride to the airport and/or help painting their house you will be the first call–all because you did not bring a $5 apple pie.

2) Complained about the food and the cook heard: This says that you are the opposite of thankful–ungrateful. Fix It: Call and praise another dish and ask for a tutorial on how to do it yourself. Now you have to sit there through cooking lessons. 

7 Tips For Successful Gold Digging

3)  Discussed someone’s personal business at the dinner table in front of the whole family. This will get you uninvited to the family reunion because you have no filter. Fix it: Take that person to lunch and apologize while revealing that you were taking prescription medication, so you just felt so “loopy” all day.

4) Tried to get with your third cousin, that’s too hot for words: Incest is never a good look. Fix It: Deny, deny, deny and like Jamie Foxx said ‘blame it on the alcohol.’ And never speak of that incident again.

5) Got drunk and Granny had to hold your hair back, while you buried your head in the toilet: This says that you can not hold your liquor. Fix It: When in doubt fault a peanut allergy and just pray that they believe you.

Check out these hot celeb pics on the web:

5 Celebs Who Should Be Thankful

Did you eat more than you wanted to at your Thanksgiving meal? If you answered yes, you are not alone. So to help the digestion process along, here are a few ideas from fitsugar.com:

After the meal:

* Drink some tea, both ginger tea and chamomile tea improve digestion. Warm beverages promote digestion in general, so any kind of herbal tea will help.

* Chewable papaya enzyme can help promote digestion as well.

The next morning:

* Oatmeal is high in insoluble fiber, which helps get things moving, if you know what I mean.

* Drink plenty of water to help the body digest and eliminate waste. Insoluble fiber needs water to help it do its magic.

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With the holiday less than two weeks away, we bring you our top 5 Thanksgiving TV moments with our favorite on-screen families.

Martin – “Thanks For Nothing”
Martin’s crazy relatives (a one-eyed John Witherspoon and a thieving cousin) meet Gina’s put-together parents for the first time.

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The Cosby Show – “Cliff’s Wet Adventure”
The Huxtables host a large gathering for dinner. Cliff must go to the market in the midst of a terrible storm to gather ingredients for the meal.

10 Thanksgiving Must-Haves For Under $30

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Living Single – “Thanks For Giving”
Everyone is surprised by Regine’s companion at Thanksgiving dinner-a charming, overweight parcel delivery guy (Heavy D), and the girls believe Scooter has plans to propose to Khadijah.

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The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air – “Talking Turkey”
Will’s mom comes to the Banks’ for Thanksgiving. She gets angry that the kids of the house leave all of the work to Geoffrey and orders them to cook the holiday meal that year. It turns out to be a disaster.

The Anti-Housewife’s Guide To Thanksgiving

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The Jamie Foxx Show – “A Thanksgiving To Remember”
Jamie’s friend Icepick Issac is a football player who’s in town and staying at the hotel, just in time for the holidays. However, when Jamie finds out that Isaac’s been cut from the team, he tries to keep the news from him.

Happy Holidays!

Three new baby mamas in one year? No thanks.

Spending hundreds of thousands on a “big a** chain” in this recession? No thanks.

Showing your a** crack on the runway while dressed in drag? No thanks.

Check out this gallery of a few Celebs and their crazy shenanigans that we will not be giving thanks for this holiday season:

5 celebs who should be thankful

4 Thanksgiving looks to make you sizzle

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

If  you’re stressing about how many side dishes to make, the appetizers that no one really needs, thawing the turkey, making pumpkin pie for the traditionalists plus “something else” for the dessert rebels. But remember, the important part of this holiday is enjoying the company of loved ones and taking time to reflect and be thankful. It’s not about spending hours making countless Thanksgiving dishes.

You know the saying, “choose your battles?” It works for Thanksgiving dinner, too. When your time is limited, choose which dishes you want to make yourself and which you can pull together using convenient products from the supermarket.

Here are some tips and tricks for dressing up store-bought products so that they’ll taste and look special to your guests.

Dressing Up Store-Bought Products

Mashed Potatoes

Add punch to frozen or boxed mashed potatoes by:

* Adding some lower-fat sour cream and freshly chopped chives.

* Stirring in some reduced-fat sharp cheddar and turkey bacon bits (cook the turkey bacon until crisp, then break it into bits).

* Stirring in roasted garlic cloves and fresh, finely chopped parsley while you’re whipping up the mashed potatoes with your mixer.

How to pick out a bottle of wine

Stove-Top Stuffing

Instead of following the directions on the box, use 2 tablespoons of butter or margarine to saute some added vegetables (like 1/2 cup chopped onion, 1/2 cup finely chopped celery, 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic, and 1/2 cup finely grated carrot). Then add the seasoning packet and 1 3/4 cups water and bring to boil. Cover, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook 5 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in bread cubes from the mix, cover and let stand 5 minutes.

Green Beans

Buy a bag of French-style green beans, and you’re halfway to a side dish. Microwave them right before serving and dress them up in the serving dish with any or all of the following:

* A sprinkle of one of the Mrs. Dash salt-free herb blends

* Some shredded Parmesan cheese

* Toasted slivered or sliced almonds

* A drizzle of olive oil or pat of butter/margarine (just enough to add a slight glaze to the dish)

* Red pepper strips sauteed in canola cooking spray or a little canola oil, olive oil, or butter/margarine

* Caramelized onions (thinly sliced onions sauteed in a nonstick frying pan with a little canola oil, olive oil, or butter/margarine until golden brown)

The single girl’s guide to Thanksgiving

Pumpkin Pie

You have a few options here. You can buy a premade piecrust (available in the frozen food section or as foldable piecrust in the refrigerated section) and just whip up the pumpkin part. Or you can buy the pie already made at your grocery store or a pie shop, then dress it up with some fun garnishes. If you like to serve your pie with Cool Whip, buy Light Cool Whip and stir in a few pinches of pumpkin pie spice and a teaspoon or two of maple syrup.

Enjoy!

For more holiday ideas from HB click here

Before you head off to the supermarket to begin the grand performance of holiday entertaining, in the art of ‘Removing Your Cape’ think about a nice relaxing holiday that you can actually enjoy and are not slaving in the kitchen and cleaning up dirty dishes. Now let’s not just think about it, let’s do it!

Begin with planning! First, how many people will be stopping by? Get a head count and give yourself room for a few extra people. Next how will you work out the food? I hardly recommend cooking everything, it is a lot to do and it’s never any fun to be in the kitchen and hear everyone in the next room having a great time. So have everyone chip in. If you are going to cook the Turkey, have everyone bring a side dish. If you are going to make the all of the food, have everyone bring dessert and drinks. Coordinate a list so you have enough sides and main dishes as well as desserts and everyone knows what they are contributing.

How can the kids help? The kids can either help with the cooking the day before (my kids love to measure, pour and stir), and or setting the table for guests on the day of. Another way they can help is by helping you clean out the refrigerator the day before. You want to have room for all of the food you are about to make for this grand feast!

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The leaves gradually changed colors, temperatures have dropped and Halloween is long gone. These are all signs that we are well into Fall and prepping for the next busy holiday, Thanksgiving. The hustle and bustle of buying all the necessary ingredients for the Thanksgiving dinner, cleaning the house, and organizing any travel and sleeping arrangements can leave you drained and in need of some R&R (rest and relaxation).

No worries, we have searched and found 10 adult holiday drink recipes for you to try at home. Pair the drinks with a meal or pour yourself a cup and snuggle into the couch. Whichever you choose to do, these drinks serve as the right touch to help calm your nerves and relax your mind.

Mocha Nog Punch
(courtesy of Delish.com and marie claire)

10 parts Kahlúa Mocha
5 parts Absolut Vanilla
20 parts Eggnog

Combine ingredients and serve in a punch bowl with a floating ice block.

Hint: Freeze ice with coffee beans for decoration.

Depaz Hottie
(courtesy of Delish.com and marie claire)

1 lb Brown Sugar
2 oz Depaz Cane Syrup
1/4 lb Butter
Pinch of salt
4 oz Fresh Apple Cider
1/2 tsp Nutmeg
1/2 tsp Cinnamon

Blend the ingredients together and bring to a boil before removing from the heat.

For Individual preparation:

Using the above cocktail base, select an appropriate mug.

Then add:
2 heaping tbs prepared cocktail base
2 oz Depaz Blue Cane Amber Rhum
Approximately 6 oz hot water

Garnish with ground nutmeg and a cinnamon stick.

Homemade Coquito
(courtesy of Delish.com and marie claire)

Coquito is an eggnog-like alcoholic beverage, and a traditional Puerto Rican holiday drink.

28 oz Coconut Milk
2 cups Rum
14 oz Condensed Milk
4 egg Yolks

Place ingredients in blender; blend until well mixed. Pour into a bottle and refrigerate until cold. Serve in small glasses and sprinkle top lightly with nutmeg.

THANKSGIVING FOOD & OUTFITS FOR YOUR PET

G’vine Frost Bite
(courtesy of Delish.com and marie claire)

1.5 oz G’vine Gin
1 coffee spoon of Lemon Pepper Zest
1.5 oz Averna Limoncello

Mix ingredients together with ice.

Merry Christi
(courtesy of Delish.com and marie claire)

2.5 oz Christiana Vodka
2 tbs Hot Chocolate Mix
2.5 oz Milk

Mix ingredients together and garnish with dark chocolate shavings.

Rum Butter Cider
(courtesy of marie claire)

1 oz Grand Marnier
1 oz Bols Butterscotch Liqueur
1 1/2 oz Zacapa 23 Year Rum
4 oz Hot Apple Cider

Garnish with a cinnamon stick and a star anise. Put the first four ingredients in a mug and add the hot cider.

YOUR STRESS-FREE THANKSGIVING MENU

Hot Pumpkin
(courtesy of Cheri Loughlin for Intoxicologist.net)

1 part Hiram Walker
Pumpkin Spice Liqueur
1/2 part Kahlúa
4 parts Hot Coffee
Whipped Cream Garnish

Place ingredients into a mug in the order above. Garnish with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice.

Pumpkin Spiced Cider
(courtesy of Cheri Loughlin for Intoxicologist.net)

4 oz Apple Cider
1 oz Simple Syrup
1 oz Pumpkin Puree
1 Cinnamon Stick
1 Clove
2 oz Jameson Irish Whisky
Dash Fresh Ground Nutmeg
Garnish: Cinnamon Stick

Place cider and all ingredients except Jameson Irish Whisky in a pan. Bring to a simmer. Steep for 30 minutes. Add Jameson Irish Whisky. Serve warm or over ice. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Cinnamon Caramel Apple Cocktail
(courtesy of DrinkSwap.com)

1 shot Goldschlager
1 shot Caramel Liqueur
1/2 glass (chilled) Apple Cider
Pour the shot of Goldschlager in a cocktail glass, fill with 1/2 glass of the chilled apple cider, and add 1 shot of caramel liqueur. Stir to mix.

Serve in a Cocktail Glass

Coffee Nudge
(courtesy of Cheri Loughlin for Intoxicologist.net)

1/3 oz Crème de Cacao
3/4 oz Kahlúa
3/4 oz Brandy
Freshly Brewed Coffee
Whipped Cream

Mix the liqueurs together in a large mug. Fill the rest of the mug with hot coffee, and float a dollop of whipped cream on top. If you like, grate some nutmeg on top of the whipped cream.

Check out the hottest celebs pics on the net!!

This Thanksgiving you’re surely in for an interesting dinner with an even more interesting cast of characters that you are forced to call family. Everyone has the typical list of crazies that converge at a dinner table every year for the holiday. The crazy and slightly weird uncle, that cute cousin that you have a secret crush on, the out-cast aunt. We know.

While we can’t get you out of sharing a meal with them this Thanksgiving, we can show you what such a dinner would be like if we could recast your thanksgiving dinner table with some interesting celebs.

Here’s our top 10 list of celebs that we’d like to have dinner with.

1.) Kanye West – The weird and slightly crazy uncle

Can you picture Kanye sitting across fromm you in his tweed suit and sunglasses-inside, just staring and interrupting convo to blurt out random mean comments every now and then? Weird!

2.) Oprah – The rich, sexually ambiguous aunt

Oprah is the aunt that we all have. Older, well-established, no kids, unmarried and perhaps gay. The perfect person to hit up for 100 bucks when your mom’s not looking.

3.) Lance Gross – The sexy cousin

Isn’t there always that one cousin who is so fine that you wish you weren’t related? Yea, Lance Gross is certainly the source of that cousin crush.

4.) Frankie – The “mom”

With Frankie as the matriarch of this family gathering, get ready for some D-R-A-M-A! Man-down!

5.) Pops – Pops

Three words…bang, bang, bang! Watch out Frankie!

6.) Lil Wayne – The bad nephew

Lil Wayne plays the role of the troubled nephew. All thought the dinner your grandma goes in on him about his tattoos, and his baby mamas and why he should try to stay out of jail, go to church and get a job.

7.) Lauren London – The fast niece

Lauren is your PYT niece, who is as fast as she is cute. You will definitely catch her texting her lil’ boyfriend under the table, trying to plan a way to sneak him in later when everyone’s sleeping. SMH!!

8.) Amy Winehouse – The aunt who likes”the drank” a lil’ too much

Amy is the token alcoholic in this gathering. Just keep her away from the rum.

9.) Keyshia Cole – The cuter, more successful sister

We can all sympathize with Neffie for a moment, because at this dinner Keyshia is the sister that you know your mom always loved a little more.  Make sure you spill some red wine on little-miss-perfect’s designer dress, then floss your $20 outfit for all its worth!

10.) The Obamas – The more sophisticated rich cousins

The Obamas would definitely be your well-off family members who moved to Chicago and hardly associate with the rest of you, except for unavoidable occasions like the one at hand. While you bust down a turkey leg with your bare hands, Sasha and Malia look at you in disgust and floss their perfect etiquette. Highfalutin.

4 Thanksgiving looks to make you sizzle

Picking out a bottle of wine can be a very daunting task. If you’re trying to find the perfect bottle for your Thanksgiving fest we’ve gathered these tips and tricks for a handy wine guide!

1. Pairing

Wine preference is definitely a personal thing but there is a general rule that you want to pair a red wine with a heavier meal and white wine with a lighter meal.

The single girl’s guide to Thanksgiving

2. Reds

Reds are definitely the more full-bodied choice when comes to wines. Some more simple and safe reds are Pinot Noir, Merlot or Gamay. If you want something more complex go for a Syrah/Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, or Zinfandel.

3. Whites

White wines are definitely great for lighter meals as well as desserts. If you like sweeter wines then maybe Gewurztraminer, Riesling or Muscat dessert might be the best for you. If you prefer more dry whites then a Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, or Sauvignon Blanc would be up your alley.

4. Price

Expensive wines tend to be better than cheap ones and that’s just a face that we all have to deal with. I would recommend to stay around the $15-$20 range for a cheaper wine and then if you want to spend more go ahead and do that. Remember, cheap wine tends to give you a headache and could give you a nasty hangover the next day as well.

How to dress up your table this Thanksgiving

5. Ask An Expert

If you still need helping finding a good wine, ask the people who work at the wine store! They are there to help and can point you in the right direction as long as you have a general idea of what you want. Most likely they have tried a lot of the wines they sell themselves and can give you a first-hand opinion of certain bottles.

There are those of us who have issues, and if you talk to your pet like he/she is a person or you plan play dates for that same animal, I am talking about you. We not only love our pet but we adore them and people like us can not stop ourselves. Thanksgiving is right around the corner, so we want our pets to have a great day filled with food and fun too.  Here are a couple of recipes for your dogs and cats:

4 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Alternatives

For the dog in your life:

Meat & Potato Patties for Dogs

Apple Molasses Delights Treats for Dogs

For the cat in your life:

Chicken Liver Treats For Pussy Cats

Tuna Treats For Cats

How To Pick Out A Bottle Of Wine

Check out these super cute doggy and kitty outfits: